A husband hugs his pregnant wife in a bright studio captured by Nicole Hawkins Photography on the East Coast. growing family #NicoleHawkinsPhotography #NicoleHawkinsMaternity #Studiomaternityportraits #NewJerseymaternity #NewYorkMaternity

I really enjoy working with my clients to create a style and experience that completely fits their vision. This particular mom reached out to me to inquire about newborn portraits. After our phone consultation, she decided that she also wanted to document her beautiful journey of pregnancy and create a few portraits of just her and her husband before their family expanded. Maternity portraits can often be overlooked because everyone is so focused on the new arrival that will be coming soon. In my experience, pregnancy is such a special time, and the clients who choose to document this experience do not regret it. I would recommend reaching out to schedule your maternity session and newborn session at once so that you do not need to worry about making additional appointments as you get later into the pregnancy.

It also feels important to mention that no two maternity sessions are alike. While you may think of maternity photos and immediately envision a mother-to-be in a long, flowing dress outdoors, there are so many ways that we can style your experience. For the record, I love a good sweeping gown, but I am fully aware that that is not everyone’s style. In our pre-session consultation, this client said that she is more of a blue jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. She came into the studio to pick out her wardrobe, see product samples, and discuss her vision for the session. She wanted her maternity portraits to feel timeless. For her outfits, we did end up selecting one understated gown for a slightly more glam look, but we made sure that it was still simple and elegant. We used our Maplewood studio to ensure the bright, light, and airy style that the client was hoping for.

During our pre-session consultation, we talked about locations in her home that would be perfect for an expanding wall gallery. She is planning to invest in more artwork once the baby arrives, and I am so excited to work with this couple again and see their new bundle of joy. This was an easy and fun session tailored to mom’s exact vision, and she was thrilled with the final results.